Bonus Post – What do the British think of their Healthcare system?

by Dr. Rick Kirschner on August 18, 2009

BONUS POST:

In the health-care ‘debate’ currently going on – and I use the word ‘debate’ ironically – those against the bills being considered keep talking about Britain’s system of healthcare and how bad it is. They want to persuade you into believing that it is an awful system, one that can’t hold a candle to our American system. BBC thought this was a story worth covering. What do the Brits think?

Watch this video and find out.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HURZfgYptfA

I’d like to hear from any British readers. Or any readers outside of the US. What do you think of your healthcare system?

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has ranked nations’ health care systems and come up with a list. Here’s some of that list:

I recently had a major illness and went to a site for online support and there wasn’t a Brit one who was sick and taking chemo that didn’t malign the UK system up one side and down the other. There were unable to get the proper drugs to help them through their treatment, namely Procit, which is easily available here and if you can’t pay for it,the drug company will give it to you at no cost as they will the drugs for the chemo.

I have a friend here who immigrated from Germany and tells me their national healthcare system is horrible and told me his stories.

Instead of asking young people who are perfectly healthy what they think of it, and I’m sure they think it’s great, but wait till you have to USE it and need it. That’s the test. Ask the 65 year old plus people and the really sick what THEY think of it. The young and healthy don’t know f___ all about it so their opinion means squat. You have to experience it when you really really need it to stay alive or cared for when you’re old.

And while we’re on the subject, here’s another article about the abundance of radiation exposure in the US system that is equally awful.

It appears that every system in the world is flawed, and that there are people harmed by the care, or lack of care, they receive. That’s why I think the real issue is insurance reform, because it isn’t apparent that anyone is actually talking about healthcare itself. If they were, there would be more of an emphasis on health and care, rather than the total focus on disease management of the current discussions taking place.